O’Malley Signs Hunting Bills into Law

During his last official bill signing ceremony as governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley signed two measures Thursday allowing Sunday hunting of deer and game mammals in Western Maryland. The Maryland Ornithological Society, a group that promotes the study of birds, had asked O’Malley to veto the bills, which were passed by the Maryland General Assembly earlier this year. One would allow hunting of game mammals and some game birds on Sundays in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties during specified times of the year while the other would allow deer hunting during some Sundays in Frederick County. State Senator George C. Edwards, R-Garrett/Allegany/Washington, the lead sponsor of both bills in the Senate, said the measures were important “because a lot of hunters want to hunt on Sundays”. Edwards told WCBC News the state land that is opened up in Western Maryland for Sunday hunting as a result of the measures would be at the discretion of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.